Russia is losing so many armored vehicles that they've turned to more novel ways to attack, and by novel I mean insane. An open vehicle without any protection whatsoever is the last thing you'd expect to see conducting an attack at the front, but the Russians recently bought 2,100 of these things and at least some commanders who must really hate their troops are sending them into battle in them. Not what Putin and Shoigu intended for sure, but still mindboggling.
Source: Forbes
It’s reckless, if not insane, to deploy an open-top, unarmored all-terrain vehicle—in essence, a heavy-duty golf cart—in combat just a quarter mile from the front line.
But two years into Russia’s wider war on Ukraine, Russian commanders are at least reckless if not not insane. Apparently this weekend, a Russian unit—possibly the 488th Motor Rifle Regiment—attacked positions held by the Ukrainian 60th Mechanized Brigade in Yampolivka, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk Oblast.
A Russian column including what appeared to be MT-LB armored tractors and at least one T-90 tank motored west toward Yampolivka. That itself wasn’t unusual. What was unusual was what else was in the assault group.
Several Desertcross 1000-3 ATVs. The Chinese-made Desertcross is an 85-horsepower ATV. It’s the kind of thing you’d find at a construction site or on a farm. It’s not the kind of thing you’d ride into battle, as it lacks armor and weaponry.
But as Russian vehicle losses exceeded 10,000 late last year, the Kremlin bought 2,100 Desertcrosses for $17,000 apiece—and shipped them off to Ukraine. While it makes sense for Russian regiments to use the ATVs as utility vehicles in rear areas, it doesn’t make sense to load them up with infantry and add them to assault groups.
The assault group was assaulted in short order.
And if you've ever wondered what it's like to get hit by an FPV drone while you're sitting in an open vehicle...not fun.
Another view of the attack - and decimation.
